Would you recommend the company you work for to your best friend? The answer to this question says a lot about the culture of the company.

In the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex a survey involving over 82,000 employees and 315 companies asked this question and others to determine which companies were the best places to work in 2014.

Some common themes emerged that can help leaders in private, public, nonprofit or government organizations answer the question: “What do employees want?”

What makes a great place to work?

The Dallas Morning News Survey

Every year the Dallas Morning News publishes the findings of their survey looking for the Top 100 Places to Work in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. The DFW metroplex is thriving in a state that is thriving. Texas has more Fortune 500 companies headquartered within it’s boarders than any other state in America.

This study surveyed companies that had 50 or more employees. No matter the size of the company, the responses came back similar. In summary, the Dallas Morning News stated:

More than anything, employees want to feel appreciated and believe that their companies are headed in the right direction. Pay and benefits are the least important by a considerable margin.

Pay attention leaders! The most important factor to an engaged workforce and a desirable workplace is not how much people are paid, whether they have casual Fridays or are part of a loaded health plan.

The most important thing to employee is the culture and the leadership.

Four Questions That Predicted The Best Places to Work

1. My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.

Theme: Culture – In these companies, people understand they are part of something bigger than themselves and feel like they are working towards a common goal.

2. This company operates by strong values and ethics.

Theme: Culture – In these companies, values are not just words on a website. They are behaviors that are standard operating procedure. 

3. I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.

Theme: Culture – In these companies, people feel they can be a great employee AND have a life away from work.

4. My manager makes it easier to do my job well.

Theme: Leadership – In these companies, leaders are coaching and removing obstacles not micromanaging and creating busy work.

The Most Important Question

I would highly recommend working at this company to others.

In these companies, the employees would encourage people to apply for a job because it is a great place to work. Maybe that is the first question we need to ask employees.

Would you encourage your best friend to work for this company?

If the answer is “No”, the leader has some work to do.

For more blogs on topics like culture, character, leadership, values and courage go to www.alslead.com.

The Bottom Line:

Culture and leadership dominated the survey. The truth is, the culture of a company is a huge part of the leader’s job. Therefore, it all comes back to the leader!

Click on the titles below to read these related blogs –

Values: What Do You Stand For?

Culture Is The Leader’s Job

Employees want to work someplace where the leaders are intentional about creating and maintaining a healthy culture. When leaders are actively engaged in refining and protecting the culture of an organization, people want to be part of that company. They want their friends to work there too.

How would the people you work with answer the question –

Would you encourage your best friend to work for this company?

Aside:

I am in the process of developing a resource for leaders who want to develop a winning culture. Please email me (dave@alslead.com) and let me know if you would be willing to help me in the development of this resource. (It would be just answering some questions)

I will be in touch in the next few weeks if you are interested.

Question:

What do you think is the most important attribute a great workplace has?

For more blogs on topics like culture, character, leadership, values and courage go to www.alslead.com.